Hurricane Comfort

Writers: Miriah, Yvonne
Date Posted: 22nd April 2016

Characters: F'lin, Lanniya
Description: F'lin comforts Lanniya after the Hurricane
Location: River Bluff Weyr
Date: month 4, day 12 of Turn 8

Lanniya

It was late by the time F'lin led his Wing back to River Bluff Weyr
from the Seacrafter's Hall. There was nothing more that they could do
now save rest up for the next day's work. Drills would be cancelled in
order to help the Hall put itself back together. F'lin was exhausted,
but after dismissing his wingriders there was still one last thing to
do.

}:Anaeryth is back as well,:{ Seneth said quietly. He tipped his wings
toward the young queen's ledge. }:I will ask if her rider will see
you.:{

**Thank you.** He'd been thinking about Lanniya the entire time he'd
been working, and the bronze knew to ask without him having to request
it.

Lanniya lay in bed, head covered by her pillow as she tried not to
think of all the damage she had seen today. Her face was puffy from
the crying she had held back until she came back to her weyr, and all
she wanted to do was just forget about everything.

Knowing Lanniya wasn't paying attention and had made an effort to
block out the noises that were constantly filtering through, Anaeryth
was quiet in her response. }: She may need the company. She is very
upset. :{ There was a pause. }: I would be grateful if he would come
and visit. :{

}:We will come.:{ Seneth swooped out of the dark almost as soon as
he'd said it, landing lightly on the ledge next to Anaeryth. F'lin
slid from his back with a soft groan, his muscles protesting as he
took his first steps across the ledge. He paused to nod respectfully
at the golden dragon, then knocked lightly at the door. "Lanniya?"

Anaeryth rumbled lightly at Seneth, then turned to watch F'lin
approach the door. }: It has been a very hard day for her. :{ She
informed the bronze.

A soft voice answered. "Come in." She sat up and hurriedly wiped at
her face, but it didn't get rid of the wet streaks or the red-rimmed
eyes.

Seneth passed along the message and F'lin had guessed as much, but he
still wasn't prepared for the pang he felt when he saw her
tear-stained face. "Hey. I thought I'd check in, after today... see
how you were doing." It felt silly to ask when he could see for
himself that the goldrider was not all right, but he didn't quite know
what else to say.

She tried, she really tried, to keep a straight face, but her lip
began to quiver. She sucked it in, took a deep breath, but then
covered her face. "I hate storms!" It exploded out of her. "I hate them!"

"Hey, it's ok." He crossed the room and enfolded her in a hug,
helpless in the face of her distress to keep his distance. The tremble
in her lip was unbearable. "I hate them too. I hate it every single
time this happens."

She tried not to start crying again, but leaned against him, grateful
for the comfort. "I hate it so much." She swallowed hard. "I have to
save them. I have to now. After all of the mess..." She shook her
head. "I have to save them, F'lin. I want something to be okay."

**Shard it.** He was too tired for this, to think up a way to delay
her or to change her mind. "You made a lot of things okay today. It
was a mess, but you're fixing it already. We're fixing it."

"It's not enough." She shook her head and wiped at her eyes. "It's not
what I want to fix." She turned her head to look up at him. "It's not
enough. All those people, F'lin. All that..." Her voice trailed away
as she remembered the damage. "We could go back and warn them. Give
them better warning. Make things better."

He used his thumbs to wipe the tears from her face. "You know we
can't-- because we haven't. And they knew what was coming. The
Dolphineers and Starsmiths told the Hall and Hold how bad the storm
was going to be, and they chose to stay. What we can do is make things
better for them today. And you did that, Lanniya. I'm proud of you."

She shook her head. "I didn't do much. U'das did most of it." She
admitted and gave a little sniff and peered up at him before wrapping
her arms around his neck and burying her face in his shoulder. She
couldn't help it, she cried against him. "I hate this. I hate storms.
I hate them. I miss my mother...and my father...I want them back."

"I know." He held her a little tighter. She fit nicely just beneath
his chin. "I know you do."

"I'm going to get them back." Her voice was muffled in his shoulder.
"I'm going to. I'm going to see them again. They're not going to die
in some storm. I'm going to save them and we'll all be together
again." She pressed her face into his shoulder.

His mind flashing back to images of bodies washed up on the beach.
**Thank Faranth she didn't have to see that.** There was no _way_
she'd be timing into a storm to save the dead... but there was also no
way he'd make that argument tonight. "Look... it's late. I'm tired and
I bet you are too, but I also bet that neither of us are going to be
able to get to sleep tonight." He drew away a bit so he could look at
her. "If you feel like company, I can ask the kitchens to send us up
something relaxing to drink. How does that sound?"

Needing comfort still, she curled up close to him and nodded. " Sounds
good. Just...don't go, okay?"

He managed a weak smile. "Sure thing."

"Good."
---

She was warm and comfortable, but there was a loud rattling noise that
dragged her from her sleep. Lanniya's eyes fluttered and her brow knit
as she jerked away. It was right in her ear! What in the ashes was
that? Her eyes popped open and in the dim light, she could see a
familiar face in silhouette, his mouth hanging open. Sitting up, she
noticed that they were both clothed. **that's good, I think, ** but
F'lin was snoring. Really, really loudly. She poked at him. "F'lin."
No response. She poked again. "F'liiiiin. Wake up." Still no response.
She frowned, the loud snores grating on her ears.

Determined to shut them up, she decided force was necessary. She sat
up, then straddled his waist, grabbing his shoulders to shake them.
"WAKE UP!!"

"Guh!" F'lin awoke with a start with his hands raised to defend
himself. His expression grew sheepish when he realized that it was
Lanniya that had shaken him awake. "Uh... sorry. Long day. Guess I
fell asleep. I should probably go..."

"We both did." She looked down at him. "You snore. You snore really loud."

"I know." It was a refrain he'd heard from every bed partner he'd ever
had, as well as his entire Weyrling class. And his mother. The
bronzerider shrugged apologetically. "It just happens."

Still groggy, she glanced out towards the ledge. It wasn't full light
yet. Moving off of him, she plopped back onto the bed and yawned. "You
woke me up." She rubbed her eyes and looked at him. "Well..." She said
with a flash of teeth. "At least we're still dressed."

"Fortunately or unfortunately?" At her look, F'lin hurriedly
backpedaled. A hard day and interrupted sleep weren't helping. "I
mean-- I came here before I had a bath. Between the stink and the
sound no wonder you're done with me." Lanniya's yawn was catching.
F'lin yawned too as he stood. "Good night, Lanniya. Or good morning?"

"It's not that. I didn't take a shower either." She burrowed back into
the furs. "Thanks for staying, F'lin. I really needed the company."
She gave a sleepy grin to him. "I don't care if you stay. Just don't
snore." She closed her eyes, her trust in him evident.

He hesitated, then sat down on the side of her bed and took her hand.
It wasn't long until her breathing evened out. F'lin crept from her
weyr to go back to his own, a slight smile on his face as a soft snore
rumbled from Lanniya's furs.

Last updated on the April 29th 2016

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Hurricane Comfort